Identification of CD7 glycoprotein as an accessory molecule in HIV-1- mediated syncytium formation and cellfree infection

A major cytopathic effect seen upon in vitro infection of CD4⁺ human T cells by the HIV is cell-to-cell fusion that results in giant cell (or syncytium) formation. Membrane fusion is required for infection by cellfree virions and in syncytium formation. We report here that the human T cell surface molecule, CD7, is important for the HIV-1 fusion process. CD7 is a roughly 40-kDa glycoprotein member of the Ig supergene family that is expressed early in the ontogeny of thymocytes and on the majority of peripheral blood T cells, as well as on NK cells and a small subpopulation of B cells. Anti-CD7 mAbs inhibited HIV-1-induced cell-cell fusion and prevented cellfree infection of SupT1 cells. The antisyncytial activity of the CD7 Abs is not because of cross-reactivity with CD4 or with viral proteins. Epitope mapping revealed at least two regions of the molecule that are important for preventing membrane fusion. Cells rendered CD7^- are poorly infectable by cellfree virus. Additionally, cells rendered CD7^- are more easily inhibited from fusing in syncytium formation assays. The collective results support a central role for human CD7 in the process of HIV infection.